1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 931
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to honor
 1-4     Alberto Garcia, a recipient of the 1999 Children's Defense Fund's
 1-5     "Beat the Odds" award; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, For many children in our Texas communities,
 1-7     achievements like graduating from high school, accumulating a good
 1-8     grade point average, and attending college are more than hard won;
 1-9     overwhelming obstacles such as poverty, abandonment, familial
1-10     discord, and illness impede these children's path to success; to
1-11     triumph over such adversity requires nothing short of herculean
1-12     effort; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Tenacity, strength, determination, self-confidence,
1-14     and bravery are but a few of the qualities these children must
1-15     possess to beat the odds stacked against them; the Children's
1-16     Defense Fund seeks to honor and support young people who have
1-17     overcome great adversity in their quest for achievement with its
1-18     "Beat the Odds" award, a $2,500 college scholarship, and a $1,000
1-19     scholarship from Foley's; and
1-20           WHEREAS, Alberto Garcia was diagnosed at age two with
1-21     cerebral palsy; even as a child, he was motivated to overcome
 2-1     the disabilities that resulted from his disorder; in his 18 years,
 2-2     he has had countless surgeries to improve his ability to walk,
 2-3     many of which have involved painful and lengthy recovery periods;
 2-4     undaunted, Alberto has endured and cast aside bed rest, wheelchairs,
 2-5     and walkers in his determination to walk without aid; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, When his operations entailed missing school, Alberto
 2-7     remained eager to return to classes, so much so that he managed to
 2-8     miss only the first week of his senior year, when doctors predicted
 2-9     he would convalesce until October; he has maintained a 4.2 grade
2-10     point average and ranks fifth in his class; secretary of his
2-11     mathematics club, parliamentarian of the National Honor Society,
2-12     and a member of the science club, this young man is determined to
2-13     prevail; and
2-14           WHEREAS, A selfless giver, Alberto tutors students in
2-15     mathematics and on weekends works to cheer up young patients at the
2-16     Shriners Hospital for Children; and
2-17           WHEREAS, Alberto's family has given him tremendous spiritual
2-18     support; indeed, other members of the Garcia family have overcome
2-19     great hardships; Alberto's mother, a single parent, works hard to
2-20     support her family on an annual income of $12,000; and
2-21           WHEREAS, Alberto's goal is to become an electrical engineer;
2-22     he will attend the University of Houston this fall; no doubt
2-23     Alberto, so full of courage and conviction, will achieve his dream;
2-24     and
 3-1           WHEREAS, Alberto Garcia has truly beaten the odds against
 3-2     him; his capacity to keep striving, no matter the trials, is an
 3-3     inspiration to us all; this fine young man greatly deserves all the
 3-4     success in the world; now, therefore, be it
 3-5           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
 3-6     76th Legislature, hereby extend sincere congratulations to
 3-7     Alberto Garcia on receiving the Children's Defense Fund's "Beat the
 3-8     Odds" award; and, be it further
 3-9           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
3-10     this esteemed young man as an expression of high regard from the
3-11     Texas Senate.
3-12                                                                   Ellis
3-13                                  ______________________________________
3-14                                          President of the Senate
3-15                                       I hereby certify that the above
3-16                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-17                                  on May 11, 1999.
3-18                                  ______________________________________
3-19                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-20                                  ______________________________________
3-21                                           Member, Texas Senate